Dear friend,
As many of us prepare to celebrate the father and father figures in our lives, we’re taking a moment to honor the resilience, sacrifice, and love of fathers around the world. For many, they play an important role in the lives of their family members and their communities — they provide, protect, encourage, and continue to be a force for good for those around them.
Read Volodymyr’s story below and let us know if you’re inspired by his dedication to his family.
Volodymyr, husband and father of two, received a cash grant through a Mercy Corps program to rebuild his furniture business after his family evacuated from their hometown.
Volodymyr Ponomarenko, a 40-year-old husband and father, owned a furniture business in his hometown of Druzhkivka, Ukraine. His business was well known and profitable as he maintained a constant pool of clients, a great relationship with suppliers, and owned the necessary equipment to complete orders.
Suddenly, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine happened, and his family’s safety was directly at risk. He took the difficult decision to move to Dnipro, nearly 200 miles north — leaving everything behind.
In an unfamiliar city, Volodymyr had to rebuild his business from scratch while continuing to provide for his family and adapt to a new way of life. Slowly but surely, he hired a group of men as he started making progress — often having to take on work for little to no payment to establish their presence in the community.
With the help of Mercy Corps’ cash assistance program, Volodymyr and his team were able to purchase equipment needed to bring their work in-house — removing outsourcing costs, reducing turnaround times, and increasing quality levels for their work.
After their lives were upended by war, Volodymyr found a way to provide for his wife and children and also provide opportunities for others in his new community.
Volodymyr’s story is one of millions around the world — stories of fathers protecting their family, working tirelessly in often unfamiliar and difficult situations, and striving to create a better life for their children.
Volodymyr’s story inspires us to continue to support displaced families as they rebuild their lives. Let us know if you agree: Volodymyr’s story is inspiring and renews our commitment to support families who are facing conflicts and crises across the globe.
Thank you,
— The Mercy Corps team
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